BuzzWorthyitems of note
Safety Harbor Mayor Andy Steingold, author Krayl Funch, realtor and Safety Harbor Chamber of
Commerce director Jodi Avery, and Tampa Bay Magazine publisher/editor Aaron Fodiman served as
judges for the Safety Harbor Chamber’s 10th Annual Taste of Safety Harbor. They awarded the Best
of Taste award to The Sandwich on Main.
Elliott Rakofsky has been appointed
director of planned giving for the SPCA
Tampa Bay by its CEO, Martha Boden.
This is the SPCA’s 75th year in our
community, and it is scheduled to open a
veterinary hospital and spay/neuter clinic
at 3250 5th Avenue North in St. Petersburg,
the town where the nonprofit group began
in 1940.
Judy Genshaft, the president of USF and
CEO of the USF System, which offers more
than 240 degree programs at campuses
in Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Tampa,
was featured in a “Profile” in Private
Clubs magazine for her membership in the
Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club. She
says that USF calls itself “The American
Dream University,” as it continues to be
one of America’s leading public research
universities.
Steve Heller, the president of the
Community Dental Clinic in Clearwater,
is celebrating the exponential growth of
the Clinic since it opened in September
of 2013 to bring low-cost dental services
to the uninsured and underserved by
donating $750,000 in patient procedures.
Their committed volunteer dental base
works with the Pinellas County Health
Department to provide services that range
from diagnostic exams to complicated
extractions and from hygiene procedures to
fillings. With the help of grants and donors,
they are making oral health a priority in
the community.
J. Michael Francis, the Hough
Family Chair of Florida Studies at USF
St. Petersburg presented his book, St.
Augustine: America’s First City, a Story of
Unbroken History and Enduring Spirit, to
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain
during their visit to the historic city. Francis
wrote the book as part of the City of St.
Augustine’s 450th year commemoration.
Spain’s Foreign Ministry commissioned
a Spanish translation for the King and
Queen.
Barbara St. Clair has been selected to
lead Creative Pinellas, the county’s local
arts agency, as its executive director. The
mission of this organization is to promote,
incubate and sustain a creative community
by building connections between
organizations, artists and resources.
Dr. Zena Lansky and her husband
Warren Rodgers provided a special
treat of pizza for all those participating
in the Straz Center’s Patel Conservatory
Spotlight Celebration that showcased the
best the Conservatory has to offer, with
students of all ages representing dance,
theatre and music each year.
Dennis MacDonald has been selected
as the chief executive officer of the Greater
Tampa Association of Realtors. The
Association is the largest Tampa Bay area
based professional association of real estate
brokers and sales associates.
Tim Ramsberger has been appointed
the deputy director of Visit St. Pete/
Clearwater, the official destination
marketing organization of Pinellas County
by David Downing, the organization’s
executive director. Tim has vast experience
with visitors and special events in the
St. Petersburg area and has successfully
operated some of the region’s largest draws
for individuals in and out of the county.
68 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE MARCH/APRIL 2016